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LIBRARY OF (CONGRESS. 



tjngljt Ixu- 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



83 



rv 



(foi^refifioiplisn? 



m 



iftlNNESOTA. 



m 



Use Youth and Prosperity to prepare for 
Old Age and Adversity. 

Do you find it difficult to provide necessities for 
3 r our famil}^ ? Would it be easier for your wife 
to provide these unaided ? Would two thousand, 
three thousand, or five thousand dollars cash 
help your wife to support and educate your 
children, should your life here cease soon? Would 
such an amount of money make more comfort- 
able your own old age, when you can no longer 
plead, preach, practice, or buy and sell merchan- 
dise ? 

A small payment yearly will furnish you and yours 
protection. 

At age 30, from $13.35 to $100.30) 
At age 40, from $17.80 to $102.14 per $1,000, 
At age 50, from $28.85 to $106.45 J 
according to the kind of contract, will secure 
your family and your creditors such protection. 
Can you afford to deprive them of their due? 

Edward 0. Fiske, City Agent of the Provident Life 
and Trust Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., can 
furnish you (if you are healthy and have a good 
family record) any form of Life Insurance or 
Endowment Insurance. 

When you are in Minneapolis call upon him, and 
thus protect your most sacred interests. 

EDWARD O. FISKE, 

City Agent of The Provident Life and Trust Company, 
of Philadelphia, Pa. 
Rooms 600-601 Sykes Block (near the corner of Hennepin Ave. and Third St.) 

office hours:/ =!o8 to ?-so p m Minneapolis, Minn. 



CONGREGATIONALISM 



IN 



MIN NESOTA 



1851 = 1891. 



By Archibald Hadden. 



tf v 



C OPYKIG ; 

JAN 18 189? ] / 

minneapolis: ^-" 

The Beard-Hudson Printing Company, 
10 North Fourth St. 
1891. 



For additional copies of this pamphlet at 25 cents each, and for the publi- 
cations of the CONGREGATIONAL, S. S. AND PUBLISHING SOCIETY, 
as well as for all CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPPLIES, address 
CLARK & MCCARTHY, Booksellers and Stationers, 622 Nicollet Avenue, 
Minneapolis, Minn. 



$1^w 



**p 



''But when every good Christian shall be restored to his right in the 
church, and not excluded from such place of spiritual government as his 
Christian abilities and his approved good character in the eye and testi- 
mony of the church shall prefer him to, this and nothing sooner will 
open his eyes to a wise and true valuation of himself, * * * Then 
would the congregation of the Lord soon recover the true likeness and 
visage of what she is indeed, a holy congregation, a royal priesthood, a 
saintly communion, the household and city of God."— John Milton, 
Prose Works. 



"And still their spirit in their sons with freedom walks abroad; 

The Bible is their only creed; their only monarch, God ! 

The hand is raised, the word is spoke, the solemn pledge is given, 
And boldly on our banner floats, in the free air of heaven. 

The motto of our sainted sires — and loud we'll make it ring; 

A CHURCH WITHOUT A BISHOP, AND A STATE WITHOUT A KING." 



"Our country received its first impulse in the homely meeting houses 
of Puritanism. Each little band of Pilgrims under its chosen shepherd 
was a free and independent state. There was assembled the future cau- 
cus-loving nation. There preached the future patriot and there listened 
the war-worn army of liberty. In a century, behold the meeting house 
has swelled into the capitol and the church members have become cit- 
izens of a stupendous empire." Oliver's Puritan Commonwealth, 

"The Pilgrims brought with them to the New World a form of 
Christianity which I cannot better describe than by styling it a demo- 
cratic and republican religion. This contributed powerfully to the 
establishment of a republic, and democracy in public affairs." 

De Tocqueville, Democracy In America. 



COPYRIGHT 1891, 
ARCHIBALD HADDEN. 



3>ebication* 

Go 
IRicbaro Iball, Cbarles Seccombe, JEowaro 3Brown f 

Cbarles Sbeoo, 2>a\uo JBurt 

ano tbe 

otber pioneers into wbose labors we bave enterefc 

ano on 

wbose foundation we are builoing, 

tbese pages are oeoicateo. 



flntrobuctiorL 



The forty years since the first Congregational Church was planted in 
"Minnesota have been very eventful. In that period Congregation- 
alism has discovered its own strength and learned to respect itself. 
No churches in this country are more thoroughly American in principles, 
history, sympathies and possibilities. 

Impressed with the thought that Congregationalists in Minnesota, 
owing to the lack of accessible literature, are unable to appreciate their 
own history and the value of their own work, the material of this book 
was collected. The State Association of Congregational Churches, 
.assembled at Duluth, approved it, voted $100 toward its publica- 
tion and appointed the following committee to see it through the press 
and circulated : Reverends A. Hadden, G. R. Merrill, J. H. Morley, J. A. 
Chamberlain and Mr. C. W. Hackett. It need hardly be added that the 
object of this publication is not to glorify a sect, but to help one branch 
of Christ's Church to a clearer consciousness of its part in bringing in 
the unity of the church and the kingdom of God on earth. 

A. H. 



CONGREGATIONALISM IN MINNESOTA. 

I. CONGREGATIONALISM. 

CONGREGATIONALISM is the most simple, broad 
and democratic form of organized Christianity. 
Each church is a republic whose members are on perfect equality and 
control their own affairs. As such it differs from the aristocratic organi- 
zation of Presbyterianism or monarchical Espicopacy or Romanism. It 
has three great watch-words : Loyalty, Liberty, Fellowship, — Loyalty 
to Christ, Liberty for the individual member, Fellowship between the 
churches. 

Historically this was the first form of organization of 
the apostolic church; but later on by the end of the first 
century a ruling class was developing and the Presbyterian methods- 
appeared, which in turn became Episcopal as centralization went on until 
at length we find the Papal government fully developed in the fifth and 
sixth centuries. This power ruled the church for the next thousand years. 
In the struggle for spiritual, intellectual and political freedom and the- 
reformation of the church in the sixteenth century, the earlier forms of 
church government reappeared, Episcopacy in England, Presbyterianism!. 
on the continent and, towards the end of the century, Congregationalism. 
in England. But the old world was not ready for democracy in either- 
church or state, and so this "church without a bishop" was met b\ r per- 
secution and martyrdom, and fled, first to Holland, and in 1620 to the 
new world, where it brought, in the Mayflower, not only a free church but 
a free government and free schools. In the old world it was obliged to> 
fight for its life. In the new it had opportunity to grow in a congenial 
soil and atmosphere. In England it has been allied with every move- 
ment for freedom and such names as John Robinson, Sir Harry Vane, Rich- 
ard Baxter, Cromwell and John Milton, honor its roll. In America it 
shaped the organization of the Republic, and gave us our school system. 
More than an\- other factor, Congregationalism was potent in the making 
of New England. It has its martyrs, its prophets, its heroic leaders, 
and its great victories. 

In the vast development of popular government during the past 250 
years, the tendency towards democracy in church organization has l>een 



<3 CONGREGATIONALISM: LOCATION, DOCTRINES. 

very marked. The various species of Baptist churches,, the Friends, the 
Adventists and the so-called Liberal churches are all organized in this 
way. Baptists differ from Congregationalists only in their sacramental 
exclusiveness ; the liberal churches in the failure to hold evangelical doc- 
trines. It was estimated in 1886 that 53 per cent, of Protestant 
Christendom was organized on the Congregational principle. 

Congregationalism proper has made its greatest advances 
Wh Found ^ in En S land > Wales > Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Aus- 
tralia, the United States and Canada, and wherever the 
missions of the London Missionary Society or the American Board have 
been planted — in the Pacific Islands, Japan, China, India, Turkey and 
Africa. There are now in all the world 15,000 Congregational churches 
■with 1,500,000 members, of which 5,000 churches and 522,000 members 
are in the United States. 

Doctrinally Congregationalism was originally allied to 
its Creed. the system of Calvin though it has always been 
roomy enough for men of other schools. In this century 
its Calvinism has been greatly modified, and now it stands on the broad 
Toasisof the evangelical doctrines. In 1883 the National Council adopted 
a. creed which has been largely accepted by the churches, and which while 
not claiming to be authoritative fairly expresses the doctrinal position of 
the denomination. This creed confesses the Trinity, God's providence and 
man's freedom, human sinfulness, God's purpose of Redemption, the 
authority of the Scriptures, the atonement of Christ, the work of the 
Holy Spirit, man's regeneration and direct relations to Christ, the 
churches as free yet in fellowship, the Lord's Day, and the final victory of 
Christ and the prevalence of righteousness. Congregationalism is tied to 
no theological system, and while using the historical creeds as conven- 
ient and valuable statements of truth, it regards them of value only in 
proportion to their truth. It stands for the broadest and most catholic 
lorm of evangelical Christianity. 

And now, after 300 years of struggle, growth and 
its Features, achievement, we find the denomination characterized by 

the following four main features that appear "wherever it 
is well developed: Evangelical doctrine, missionary zeal, educational 
^enthusiasm, and strong desire for Christian union. 

Congregationalism is not anchored to an ancient creed, 

Evangelical, but adhering to the Bible, loyal to Christ and depending 

on the Spirit that gives life and leads into the truth, it 

is neither timidlyconservative nor rashly progressive. It emphasizes an 

intelligent faith. It welcomes every ray of light that breaks from God's 

word and is busy applying Christianity to present problems. Its tradi- 



CONGREGATIONALISM : ITS FEATURES. 7 

tions,its unwritten constitution and its strong practical and missionary 
bent keep it with all its freedom true to the evangelical position. It is 
evangelical because it is evangelistic. 

A true church of Christ must be apostolic, missionary, 
Missionary, evangelistic. Its missionary zeal has been the life of Con- 
gregationalism. In John Eliot the "Apostle to the In- 
dians" it has the glory of the first Protestant foreign missionary. Except 
the Moravians, it was the first church in America to reach the heathen 




PILGRIM CHURCH, DULUTH. 



world with the gospel; and in organizing the American Board in 1810, it 
became the mother of modern missions on this continent. It has 
produced such evangelists as Jonathan Edwards, Charles G. Finney and 



8 CONGREGATIONALISM: ITS FEATURES. 

Dwight L. Moody. It has been most fruitful in inventing new organiza- 
tions and devising new ways of bringing Christ to men and men to 
Christ. Among these have been the following which stand today 
among the great agencies of missionary work at home and abroad : 

The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1810, 

The American Home Missionary Society, 1826. 

The American Education Society, 1816. The College Society, 1843. 
Consolidated as the Am. Col. & Ed. Society, 1874. 

The Congregational Board of Publication, 1 854. The Sunday School 
Society, 1832. Consolidated as the Congregational Sunday 
School and Publishing Society, 1868. 

The American Missionary Association, 1846. 

The American Congregational Union, 1853. 

The New West Education Commission, 1879. 

Besides these, Congregationalists have had an important part in start- 
ing and maintaining undenominational oi'ganizations,as the Bible Society ^ 
the Tract Society, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Sunday 
School Union; and it was a Congregational pastor who originated ancli 
"fathered "the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. The Con- 
gregationalists in the United States gave last year over $4.50 per mem- 
ber for missions. 

As modern Congregationalism began among the intelli- 
Education. gent middle class of English people, with Cambridge men 

as its leaders and Ley den as one of its first homes, it has 
naturally raised a high standard of education and taken a deep interest 
in all educational movements. An intelligent membership is essential to 
its prosperity. In 1640 it planted Harvard College, and it has been the 
founder of Yale, Amherst, "Williams, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Middlebury, 
Oberlin, Marietta, Olivet, Beloit, Ripon, Illinois, Iowa, Drury, Washburne, 
Carleton, Yankton, Fargo and many others. It has seven finely equip- 
ped theological seminaries. It maintains one hundred and twenty 
schools and colleges in foreign lands, sixty among the Freedmen and 
thirty-one among the Mormons. No church has a prouder educational 
record. 

Finally", Congregationalism looks toward Christian 
Christian TJnion. Its heart is in that and it is built for it. Practically 

in its actual workings it is found to be remarkably adapt- 
ed to be the meeting-place of Christians of many types and names. The- 
church which shall gather all Christians into its bosom, must be demo- 
cratic in organization, strong in intelligence and thought, simple in 
creed and full of evangelistic force and fire. And such is a Congregation- 
al Church. Congregationalism has just held in London its first inter- 
national council. No subject there discussed awakened such interest as 
that of Christian Union or Federation of the Churches. And this council 



MINNESOTA. 9> 

led the way by voting for "a fraternal federation, without authority, of 
all Christian bodies at such early date as the providence of God will per- 
mit." In the past forty years there has come the "Renaissance of 
Congregationalism." It is realizing as never before its place and mission* 
in the world. 



A Bird's Ej-e 



II. MINNESOTA. 

If from some Pisgah-height one could see Minnesota,, 
what would the vision be ? A plateau, lying nearly 
at the center and in the highest part of the continent,, 
83,000 square miles in extent, dotted with 10,000 lakes and drained into 
three great river systems, the Red, the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi. 
Our observer, glancing to the northeast would see vast pine forests, 
25,000 square miles in extent, mineral lands, with untold wealth of 
iron, reaching around Lake Superior, and, crowning it all, the seaport city 
of Duluth with its 40,000 people. Following the three trans-continental 
lines of railroad, the Northern Pacific, the Great Northern and the Soo^ 
he would see in the central region 5,000 square miles of hardwood tim- 
ber, called the "Big Woods," and hundreds of beautiful lakes. To the 
northwest would be seen the alluvial expanse of the Red River valley,, 
level as the sea, of matchless fertility, bounding the state for 20O 
miles. Southward, from west to east, he sees the older settled parts 
of the state, cultivated prairie, well stocked farms, flourishing towns and 
cities abounding in comfortable homes, churches, schools, colleges and 
state institutions. 

• But the eye naturally turns to that point on the eastern central border- 
to which a score of railroad lines converge, and where the modern 
miracle of chy-building has taken place, where in twenty years the twin 
cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, have grown from provincial towns with* 
a combined population of not over 40,000 to a great commercial in- 
dustrial, religious and educational center of at least 350,000 inhab- 
itants. 

This is Minnesota, peopled by 1,300,000 inhabitants, made acces- 
sible with 5,000 miles of railroad and the great lakes and rivers,, 
with its army of 10,000 educators, and its 1,800 churches. Clearly a. 
great future is before this commonwealth. In the building up of this, 
state Congregationalism has had a worthy part, and in shaping its 
future it has a great responsibility. 



10 



historical: ixdiax missions. 



III. HISTORICAL, 



Prehistoric. 



In the days when the Indian agent, the soldier and the 
fur trader wefe the only white people in the region, 
the American Board had its missionaries at work here 
among the Dakota or Sioux 
Indians. No missionary 
story is more romantic and 
thrilling than that of the 
Riggs, the Ponds and the 
Williamsons, who met the 
war-like Sioux with the 
story of divine love by 
the Falls of St. Anthony 
and wherever their tepees 
were pitched in this land 
of "sky-tinted water." In 
1835, thirteen years after 
Fort Snelling was built, 
and twelve years after the 
first steamer had sailed 
up the Mississippi to the 
fort, these missionaries 
began their work of mast- 
ering the Dakota lang- 
uage, reducing it to writ- 
ing and preaching in it the 
everlasting Gospel. The 
record of their work be- 
longs to the history of 
missions among the Ind- 
ians rather than to that of the State of Minnesota. 

In 1849 the territory of Minnesota was admitted and 
Its Advent. settlers were appearing along the eastern border. At 
this time Congregationalists in this country were in- 
volved in the "plan of union." They had accepted the fallacy that 
Congregationalism could not flourish west of the Hudson river, and in 
the interior states they were dallying with Presb\ r terianism, and instead 
of organizing Congregational churches in New York, Ohio and Illinois 
were going into the Presbyterian fold. It was a mistake for which they 
had only themselves to blame. Hence the earliest annals of the denom- 
ination in the state reveal a confused blending of the two polities, 




FIRST CONG. CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS. 



The 
First Decade 



historical: the early days. 11 

•which continued for the first ten years. But "the renaissance of Congre- 
gationalism "was at hand, and already there were clear-headed leaders 
on the ground who appreciated their heritage and believed in the Con- 
gregational polity. 

We may date the advent of Congregationalism among 
The Pioneers, the white people of the state from the coming to Minne- 
sota of two young men under commission of the American 
Home Missionary Society, the Rev. Richard S. Hall and the Rev. Charles 
Seccombe. The former was afterwards, and till 1874, our superintendent of 
home missions; the latter was the founder of the First Church of St. An- 
thony, now the First Congregational Church of Minneapolis, and the first 
to be organized in the state. Both of these pioneer leaders are still living 
and bearing fruit in an honored old age. Their work and that of others 
who soon came into the state was of very great value. 

This was the pioneer period when the territory be- 
came a state, when its 6,000 people became 172,000, 
*iS50^6o" '" when the population settled along the eastern borders, 
in the southern part of the state and up the river 
"valleys, asfarwestasGlencoe,andasfarnorthasSauk Rapids, before rail- 
roads had reached the state. Then our churches grew from nothing to 
forty-three, and some of the strongest of them were planted, as Minne- 
apolis First (St. Anthony) in '51, Excelsior in '53, Winona in '54, Fari- 
bault, Northfi eld, Lake City, Spring Valley in '56, Austin, Minneapolis 
Plymouth, Glencoe, Owatonna, Wabasha, Zumbrota in '57, Rochester, 
St. Paul Plymouth in '58, and others. The "hard times" of '56 and '7, 
the great revival and the anti-slavery agitation were the events of 
prominence. We may call this period that of the planting and training 
of our churches in Minnesota. 

This brings us to the time of darkest shadows and 

^ he „ brightest lights. The years '61-5 were made tragical bv 
Second Decade, , e _. ., * 1 , ~ „. , , „ T1 , te 

1860-70. the Civil War and the Indian outbreak. Whenthetroops 

were mustered out in 1865, there were 250,000 people 
in the state; yet one in every ten, or 25,000 men had served in the 
Avar. We do not expect to find much church growth in this time. But 
The next five } r ears were exceedingly prosperous. Immigration -was re- 
sumed ; new towns sprang up, and every kind of business was rushing — 
in fact, too much so. B\- 1870 there were over 400,000 people here. The 
records show a number of important churches started, such as Plainview 
in '63, St. Cloud in '64, Alexandria, Fairmont, Minneapolis Second (now 
Park Ave.) and Waseca in '68, Mankato, Glen wood and Hutchinson 
in '70. 

The most important event for Congregationalism in 

Carieton College, this decade was the founding of Carleton College, by 

the State Association at Faribault in 1866. It was 

literalh' the child of the churches, born in a revival; and its equipment 



12 historical: carleton college. 

was the prayers and small gifts made with great selfsacrifice of those 
pioneers and home missionaries. The preparatory school was opened 
in 1867; but it was not till 1870-71, after many struggles that the col- 
lege department was organized and placed in a position to begin its be- 
neficent work, when Dr. J. W. Strong was made president, and Wm. Carle- 
ton of Massachusetts gave it $50,000, and it received his name. 

The An epoch of inflated values followed by financial prostra- 

Third Decade, tion, of the grasshopper scourge, of continued immigra- 
1870-80. tion and of returning prosperity. The population al- 
most reached 800,000. Railroads were built across the state and church 
extension followed them ; for the bulk of the immigration was now into 
the newer parts of the state, west and northwest. In 1874 Rev. L. H_ 
Cobb, D. D., took charge of the home missionary work and new organ- 
izations began to multiply. By 1880, 130 churches were enrolled. They 
are too numerous now to specify, but we see the growth reach north to 
Duluth, Brainerd and Glyndon, westward to Morris, Montevideo, Or- 
tonville, Marshall and Worthington. The state is now fairly opened up 
for settlement ; government lands are becoming scarce, the frontier line- 
has disappeared and the immigration is flowing over into theDakotas. 

The The great features of this recent period are the increase 

Fourth Decade, and enlargement of our city churches and missions to cor- 
1880-90. respond with the great growth of the cities, the begin- 
nings of work among the foreign population, the Scandinavians, Bohe- 
mians and Germans, and the great development of our Sunday School 
work. No decade has seen such all-around increase, not less than eighty- 
churches having been planted. But as the great growth in population 
has been in the cities there we find the church growth. Winona has two 
Congregational churches, Duluth with its suburbs has three. In 1880> 
St. Paul had 41,473 people with one Congregational church, while in 
1890 it had 133,156 people and eight Congregational churches and 
ten missions. Minneapolis in 1880 had 46,887 people and four Con- 
gregational churches. In 1890 it had 164,738 people, sixteen Congrega- 
tional churches, and twelve missions. During this time there has also de- 
veloped a flourishing church in Stillwater. Of the twenty-five cities of the 
state having a population of 2,000 and over, there are Congregational 
churches in all except Albert Lea, Hastings, Moorhead, Red Wing and St. 
Peter. W T e need not emphasize the importance of the city work in view 
of the rapid centralization of population the world over. 

This is a very important phase of the new Congrega- 

The Foreign tionalism that believes in itself and has courage and ener- 
Work 

gy. In 1881 Dr. L. H. Cobb was called to another po- 
sition and the Rev. M. W. Montgomery became the superintendent o 
home missions. He was no sooner fairly at work than he discovered 
the close connection between our work and the great Evangelical move- 




CARLETON COLLEGE. 



14 



THE CHURCHES LOCATED. 



ment in Scandinavia, known as the Swedish Mission Friends. In history 
polity, doctrine and purpose they are essentially Congregationalists. 
In 1S84 Mr. Montgomery was made superintendent of Scandinavian 
work in this country and the Rev. J. H. Morley took his place in this 
state, and is still at the helm. This work among the Scandinavians is 
one of great promise. There are now eleven Scandinavian Congrega- 
tional churches in the state. There is a flourishing Bohemian church at 
Silver Lake, and a mission in St. Paul. Work has also been started 
among the Germans. 

The No aggressive denominational Sunday school work had 

Sunday School been done previous to this decade. But new life has 
Work. come into this department resulting in the appoint- 

ment in 1S88 of the Rev. R. P. Herrick as superintendent of state Sun- 
da}" school work. An assistant is now working with him. Our schools 
more than doubled their enrollment during this period and they now 
number 273 schools with 25,645 members. 



IV. THE CHURCHES LOCATED. 



Anoka Conference. 



TURNING to the work now in hand, we shall best 
grasp the present situation by studying the fol- 
lowing maps, diagrams and figures. Assuming that the 
reader knows the general geography of the state and cities, these sketch 
maps are intended only to locate the churches approximately. 

Conference boundaries are marked with heavy lines and are desig- 
nated by Roman numerals. In each conference the counties are given 
and the churches denoted by Arabic numerals. The population is given 
with each county. 

1 Sandstone (Swedish). 

1 New Brighton. 

2-9 See map of Twin 

Cities. 
1 Elk River. 

(See Central Conf.) 
1 "Winthrop. 

1 Afton. 

2 Areola. 

3 Cottage Grove, 

4 Lakeland. 

5 Marine. 

6 Stillwater. Grace. 
Total Population, 429,448. 
Churches, 49. 

II Central Conference. 

Benton, 1 East St. Cloud. 
6,290 2 Sauk Rapids. 

3 " " (Swedish). 



Anoka, 

9,906 
C arver, 

16,519 
Chisago, 

10,369 

Hennepin, 
185,294 



Anoka. 

Ham Lake (Swedish). 



Mc Leod, 
17,028 



1 North Branch. 

2 Rush City (Swedish). 

3 Sunrise. 

1 Excelsior. 

2 Groveland. 

3 Hopkins, Mizpah. 

4 Long Lake. 

5 Wayzata. 

6-21 See map of Twi 
Cities. 

1 Brown ton. 

2 Glencoe. 

3 Hutchinson. 

4 Preston Lake. 

5 Stewart. 



Pine, 

4,052 
Ramsey, 

139,796 

Sherburne, 

5,764 
Sibley, 

14,832 
Wash'gton 

25,888 



THE CHURCHES LOCATED. 



Douglas, 


1 


Alexandria. 


Waseca, 


1 


Freedom. 


14,596 


2 


Osakis. 


13,232 


2 


Jaynesville. 


Isanti, 








3 


New Richland. 


7,590 








4 


Waseca. 


Kandiyohi 




* 


Watonwan, 




13,960 






7,746 






Kanabec, 






Total population, 162,548. 


1,577 






Churches, '. 


29. 


Meeker, 












15,567 












Mille Lacs, 


1 


Princeton. 


IV Minn. Valley Conference 


2,845 












Morrison, 


1 


Green Prairie. 


Big Stone, 


1 


Graceville. 


13,325 


2 


Little Falls. 


5,705 


2 


Ortonville. 




3 


Swanville. 


Chippewa, 


1 


Montevideo. 




4 


Upsala (Scandinav'n). 


8,548 






Pope, 


1 


Glenwood. 


Grant, 






10,025 


2 


Hudson. 


6,868 








3 


Yillard. 


Lac Qui 






Sherburne, 


1 


Big Lake. 


Parle, 


1 


Dawson. 


5,764 


2 


Cable. 


10,368 


2 


Madison. 




3 


Snake River and Becker 




3 


Marietta. 






(Scandinavian) . 


Stevens, 


1 


Hancock. 






(See Anoka Conf.) 


5,246 


2 


Lake Emily. 


Stearns, 


1 


Paynsville. 




3 


Morris. 


34,843 


2 


Sauk Center. 




4 


Rendsville. 




3 


St. Cloud. 


Swift, 


1 


Appleton. 


Todd, 


1 


Grey Eagle. 


10,137 


2 


Benson. 


12,921 


2 


Hansen. 


Traverse, 








3 


Pillsbury. 


4,510 








4 


W. Union. 


Wilkin , 


1 


Campbell. 






(See N. P. Conf.) 


4,343 


2 


Tintah. 


"Wright, 


1 


Clearwater. 






(See N. P. Conf.) 


24,139 


2 


Hasty. 


Yellow 








3 


Monticello. 


Medicine, 


1 


Granite Falls. 


Total Population, 154,833. 


9,585 






Churches, 


26. 


Total Population, 65,310. 


III Mankato Conference. 


Churches, 


15. 


Blue Earth 


,1 


Mankato. 








29,143 


2 


" (Swedish). 


V Northern Pacific Conferenc 




3 


Mapleton. 










4 


Mc Pherson. 


Aitkin, 


1 


Aitkin. 




5 


South Bend. 


2,458 








6 


Sterling. 


Becker, 


1 


Audubon. 


Cotton- 






9,289 


2 


Detroit. 


wood, 


1 


Westbrook. 




3 


Lake Park. 


7,353 




(Scandinavian) . 




4 


Lake View. 


Faribault, 








5 


Osage. 


16,638 






Beltrami, 






Freeborn' 


1 


Freeborn. 


312 






17,952 


2 


Hartland. 


Cass, 








3 


Manchester. 


1,247 






Jackson, 






Clay, 


1 


Barnesville. 


8,922 






11,458 


2 


Georgetown. 


La Sueur, 


1 


Kasota (Scandina- 




3 


Glyndon. 


19,044 




vian). 




4 


Hawley. 






(See Owatonna Conf.) 


Crow Wing, 1 


Brainerd, 1st. 


Martin, 


1 


Bethany. 


8,800 


2 


2nd. 


9,401 


2 


Center Chain. 


Hubbard, 


1 


Hubbard. 




3 


Fairmont. 


1,412 


2 


Park Rapids. 




4 


Huntley. 


Itasca, 








5 


Sherburne. 


743 








6 


Triumph. 


Kittson, 






Murray, 






5,370 






6,690 






Lake, 






Nicollet, 


1 


Belgrade. 


1,299 






13,324 


2 


Goshen. 


Marshall, 


1 


Stephen. 




3 


Salem. 


9,103 






Nobles, 


1 


Ellsworth. 


Norman, 


1 


Ada. 


7,945 


2 


Worthington. 


10,598 






Pipe Stone 


, 1 


Edgerton. 


Otter Tail, 


, 1 


Dora. 


6,797 






34,181 


2 


Fergus Falls. 


Rock, 


1 


Ash Creek. 




3 


Pelican Rapids. 


5,068 


2 


Martin. 




4 


Scambler. 



16 



THE CHURCHES LOCATED. 



Tolk, 


1 


Crookston. 


Lyon, 


1 


Custer. 


30,201 


2 


Fertile. 


9,501 


2 


Garvin. 




3 


Fosston. 




3 


Marshal. 




4 


Maple Bay. 




4 


Tracy. 




5 


Mentor. 


Redwood, 


1 


Lamberton. 




6 


Mcintosh. 


9,386 


2 


Walnut Grove. 


•St. Louis, 


1 


Duluth, Pilgrim. 


Renville, 






4-L 4-80 


2 


New Duluth. 


17,160 








3 


West Duluth. 


Total Population, 57,494. 


Todd, 


1 


Bertha. 


Churches. 14. 


12,921 


2 


Staples. 












(See Central Conf.) 


VIII Winona Conference. 


Wadena, 


1 


Verndale. 








4,048 


2 


Wadena. 


Dakota, 


1 


Douglas. 


Wilkin. 


1 


Breckenridge. 


20,210 






4,343 




(See Minn.Val. Conf.) 


Fillmore, 


1 


Rushford. 


Total Population, 171,999. 


26,338 




(See Owatonna Conf.) 


Churches. 34. 


Goodhue, 


1 


Cannon Falls. 








28,783 


2 


Zumbrota. 








Houston, 






"VI Owatonna Conference. 


14,638 
Olmstead, 


1 


High Forest. 








19,434 


2 


Rochester. 


Dodge, 


1 


Claremont. 




3 


Stewartville. 


10,864 


2 


Dodge Center. 


Wabasha, 


1 


Elgin. 




3 


Mantorville. 


16,970 


2 


Lake City. 


3Pillmore, 


1 


Hamilton. 




3 


Plainview. 


26,338 


2 


Spring Valley. 




4 


Mazeppa. 






(See Winona Conf.) 




5 


Wabasha. 


ILe Sueur, 


1 


Waterville. 




6 


Zumbro Falls. 


19,044 




(See Mankato Conf.) 


Winona, 


1 


St. Charles. 


Mower, 


1 


Austin. 


33,788 


2 


Saratoga. 


18,018 


2 


Dexter. 




3 


Winona 1st. 




3 


Grand Meadow. 




4 


" 2nd. 




4 


Lyle. 




5 


Wiscov. 




5 


Rose Creek. 


Total Populai 




6 


Taopi. 


Churches, : 


18. 


Kice, 


1 


Cannon City. 








23,940 


2 


Faribault. 


Summary of Churcl 




3 


Morristown. 










4 


Northfield. 


Anoka, 


49 Churches. 


Steele, 


1 


Medford. 


Central, 


26 


13,232 


2 


Owatonna. 


Mankato 


, 29 \ "■ 


Total 


Population, 92,292. 


Minnesot 


a 




Churches 


Valley, 


li3 








Northern 












Pacific, 


34 


"VII Western Conference. 


Owatonn 
Western, 


a, 18 
14 








Winona, 


18 



Brown, 


1 


New Ulm. 


15,812 


2 


Sleepy Eye. 




3 


Springfield. 


Xincoln, 


1 


Aetna. 


5,635 


2 


Lake Benton. 




3 


Lake Stay. 




4 


Tyler. 




5 


Verdi. 



203 

Population, 1,300,017. 

One Congregational church to 6,500 
people. 

There are 17 counties with a com- 
bined population of 140,567 in which 
there is no Congregational church. 



Comparing the Year Books for 1891 of the five leading 
Congregation- p ro testant denominations of Minnesota, we reach the 
other Christians following result, as showing their comparative strength 
at the end of last vear. 



1. Methodists, - - 287 Churches, 

2. Baptists, - - - j. 97 " 

3. Presbyterians, - - 184 " 
-4. Congregationalists, - 182 " 
5. Episcopalians, - 132 " 



20,270 Members. 

- 14,073 
13,028 

- 13,250 

9,047 



THE CHURCHES LOCATED. 



17 




DISTRIBUTION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES 
IN MINNESOTA. 



THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED. 19 

111 the United States there is one Congregationalist to less than one 
Episcopalian, more than two Presbyterians, eight Baptists and nine 
Methodists. In Minnesota the ratio is somewhat different, viz.; one 
Congregationalist to three-fourths of an Episcopalian, one Presbyterian, 
one Baptist and one and one-half Methodists. The data are not at 
hand for a comparison with the Lutherans. The Roman Catholics claim 
a constituency of 300,000 in Minnesota, but their method of computa- 
tion reckons families where we reckon individuals. The Year Book for 
1890 reports over 10,000 Congregational families. We have over 14, 
000 church members and 25,645 in our Sunday schools. We may safely 
say that the Congregational constituency of Minnesota is not less than 
60,000 On this basis the Roman Catholics outnumber us five to one. 
As a Congregational state Minnesota ranked last year twelfth, in the 
Union, in the number of churches, eleventh in church membership, tenth 
in Sunday school enrollment and fifth in benevolent contributions. 



V. THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED. 

The r~p\0 learn more definitely the features of church work 

JL and organization in the local churches, circulars 
were sent out to the pastors asking a number of questions. Re- 
plies were received from eighty-two, which may be taken as thoroughly 
representative, if not complete. From these it appears : 

1st. That the greater part of our churches are incorporated without 
an ecclesiastical society. Fifty-four churches are incorporated and 
twenty-four have ecclesiastical societies. Only three rent pews and two 
of them are in the larger cities. 

2nd. That the Sunday School work is improving in quality as well 
as in quantity. Teachers meetings are held in thirty-two churches. 
Normal work and Inductive Bible study is increasing. 

3rd. That the Christian Endeavor Society has taken a strong hold 
in our churches and is being extensively utilized. Of the 457 Endeavor 
Societies in the state, 123 are in Congregational churches. Of the 
eighty-four replies, seventy-five report Endeavor Societies, and twenty- 
one have junior societies. To the question, "Are your young people do- 
ing any work outside of the prayer meeting?" forty-one report, Yes.- 
Twelve pastors say their societies are doing missionary work. Five are 
in temperance work, one sustains a cottage prayer meeting, one keeps 
up a reading room, several have literary societies. To the question, 
"Have you any criticism on the society?" the answers are almost 
unanimously "No." The few criticisms are very guarded and do not 
touch the central work and principle of the societj-. 



'20 



THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED. 



4-th. That the women's organizations are indispensible to modern 
-church work. Twenty churches report woman's Foreign Missionary 
societies, seventeen have Home Missionary societies and forty -four com- 
bine their organization for both home and foreign work. The Ladies' 
Aid Society is ever3 r where, seventy-two being reported. No well regu- 
lated church can do without it. Fort^^-two children's missionary socie- 
ties are reported and eighteen young peoples. 

5th. That of the eighty-two churches heard from, seventy-seven con- 
tributed to the American Board, eighty-two to home missions, sixty-four 
to the American Missionary Association, sixty-eight to the Congrega- 
tional Union, fifty-six to the New West Education Commission, forty- 
six to the College and Education Society and seventy to the Sunday 
School and Publishing Societ}-, while thirty-five say they give to other 
objects more or less numerous. 



umif 



GROWTH OF POPULATION OF 
MINNESOTA. 




<wm 



itso 



6th. That three maintain a local church paper; thirty-nine say the 
"denominational papers are largely taken in their churches. Fifteen have 
literary societies, or boy's clubs, or young men's societies. Sixteen have 
temperance societies. 

7th. Among the special features of the churches we note : Faribault 
supports a pupil in an A. M. A. school. Medford sustains four Sunday 
schools. Owatonna maintains a missionary in Japan; Glyndon a student 
in India. Many churches in the cities have mission schools. Elk River 
has a branch church. The First Church and Plymouth, Minneapolis, 



THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED 21 

and Pilgrim Church, Duluth, have missionaries in foreign lands. Pilgrim 
Church, Duluth, has a club for young men; a mid-week church night, 
which is a combination of an evening for church business, social enjoy- 
ment and the prayer meeting. The First Church, Minneapolis, is espec- 
ially strong in its social organization and in Bible study. Plymouth, Min- 
neapolis, is thoroughly organized. The young men have a club; the 
various branches of women's work are unified through a central organi- 
zation ; free kindergarten work is maintained in connection with 
its missions. The church at Wabasha helps support a teacher in Japan. 
Magazine clubs and paper exchanges are in several churches. Many 
churches district their parishes and put calling committees over each 
section. 



GROWTH OF CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCHES IN MINNESOTA. 



Note. — The apparent standstill from 
1880-5 is due to the effort made then 
to drop some churches, that were 
not active, most of which are still 
living. 



16$ 




ISSO 



Conclusion. 



On the whole there is here a live and as a rule well organ- 
ized body of churches. The organization must depend of 
course on local needs and the strength of the church. In general, 
even the weakest church must have a Sunday school and Ladies 1 
Aid society. The only excuse for not having an Endeavor society is the 
lack of young people. By no means all the efficient work is in the large 
cities. Some exceedingly successful service is being done by churches in 
the smaller towns. Not a multiplicity of intricate tools, but the use that 
is made of the ordinary ones, proves the workman's skill. Nothing 1 re- 
veals more the intelligence and consecration of a church than the use it 
makes of the Sunday school, the Endeavor society, the Ladies' Aid so- 
ciety and the missionary organizations. The seven benevolent societies 
stand ready to help the weakest as well as the strongest churches to 
preach the gospel to every creature, and very many churches contribute 
to them all. The door of opportunity is open and the pressure of the 



THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED: THE CONFERENCES 



The 
Conferences. 



world's need is very intense on the strong and weak alike. Dare we yet 
say, we are doing the best we can? 

For purposes of fellowship ■ and mutual helpfulness, the 
churches are banded together in district conferences and 
also in a State Association. Of the eight conferences a 
Few words may be said. At the head of the column and first in wealth, 
members, gifts and responsibilities, because embracing the "twin 
cities," is the Anoka conference. It has forty-eight churches and twenty- 
two missions or Sunday schools. A proposition to divide this body is 
now before the conference. The two oldest and best trained conferences 
are the ones lying in the southeastern quarter of the state, and known 
as the Winona, reaching along the river from the southern state line to 
Lake City, and the Owatonna reaching from Austin on the south to 
Northfield on the north. In many respects, the strongest and best de- 
veloped churches are in these conferences. 



GROWTH OP CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND 
SUNDAY SCHOOL EN- 
ROLLMENT. 




S ffflO** 



Central conference covers a largi region in the northern central part 
of the state. It has some of the oldest churches, as Princeton, Clearwater, 
Sauk Centre and some of the newest, as Pillsbury. It has five self- 
supporting churches. We have now reached the home missionary fields, 
which are to be found pre-eminently in this and the four remaining dis- 
tricts. The Northern Pacific conference reaches from Duluth to Brecken- 
ridge, embracing the vast, partially developed iron, pine, hardwood and 
prairie lands and numbering thirty-nine churches of which but five are 
self-supporting. South of this are the three remaining conferences, the 



THE CHURCHES ORGANIZED : OTHER FEATURES. 



23 



Minnesota Valley covering seven counties and numbering fifteen churches, 
only two of which are self-supporting; the Western with five counties 
and fourteen churches, but one of which is unaided, and the Mankato 
at the south-west corner of the state, embracing twelve counties and 
twenty-three home missionary churches, with six unaided churches. 
These conferences are the picket line of our force. Nowhere in the state 
is more needed or better work being done than in these home missionary 
fields. 

Meeting once a year is the State Association, with a 
The state j-^ e p Ur p 0se) but larger scope and numbers than the 

district conference. Each church is entitled to represen- 
tation by its pastor and one delegate, and one additional delegate for 
•everv fiftv members after the first hundred. 



5ECORD OF BENEVOLENT GIFTS OF CON- 

GREGATIONALISTS OF MINNESOTA 

FOR 40 YEARS. 




topj}& 



nso ^ oo .r 70 jr gb . j~ j^q 

Besides this there are other lines of organization, as the Minnesota 
-Congregational Club, meeting monthly in Minneapolis or St. Paul. Its 
•object is, to promote the spiritual, intellectual and social welfare of its 
members and to help the Congregational churches of Minnesota and 
the kingdom of Christ at large. The -woman's state Missionary So- 
cieties, are two in number, the Foreign, auxilliary to the Woman's 
Board of the Interior, and the Home, lending its aid to the six benevo- 
lent societies that are working in this country. There are local organ- 



24 THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 

izations as the St. Paul Congregational Union, which has done much to> 
promote the spread of our work in St. Paul, by fostering home mis- 
sionary churches and mission Sunday schools at favorable points* 
Several of the newer churches have felt its efficient influence. "Church 
Work," a local paper, is published in its behalf. The Minnesota Home 
Missionary Society was organized in 1878. It is auxilliary to the Ameri- 
can Home Missionary Society. Its office is at 408 Nicollet Avenue,. 
Minneapolis, where the superintendent may be found. 

This is a distinctive feature of the Congregational polity 
Church Councils, that is extensively used. The ecclesiastical council has 

no authority except advisory. It meets, does its work 
and dissolves. But in expressing fellowship, in settling trying cases of 
church discipline, in ordaining or installing ministers, and in other im- 
portant matters of church life, it is of very great value, and Minnesota 
Congregationalists make large use of it. 



VI. THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 

TO THE question, what is now the peculiar mission of Congregation- 
alism, we have only to say. To be true to its traditions and to con- 
tinue to be an evangelical, missionary, educating and unity-loving 
church. And such we believe is true of Congregationalism in Minne- 
sota today. 

On this point there is not much to be said except to call 
Evangelical, attention to the fact that we have had no heresy trials 
and little or no heresy hunting in Minnesota, and that 
not because of indifference, but because the churches have been better em- 
ployed. There have been very few defections from the ranks of the 
ministry. This region has never been a theological storm center. The 
churches have demanded and have had an intelligent and able ministiw, 
and in the rapid development of the state the burden of work has been 
so heavy and so constant as to demand a strong faith and firm grasp of 
the fundamentals of Christian truth. Without boasting of our ortho- 
doxy, we are glad to state the fact that our churches are evangelical. 
Only an intelligent and working faith could have done the work that 
the denomination has done in the Northwest. The creed referred to on 
page 6 is the doctrinal basis of the majority of churches organized in 
the past seven years. But the best proof of faith is its works. Churches 
do not give their money and their children to missions except as they 
are loyal to Christ as the Son of God. That our churches are doing 
this the following paragraphs will show. 



THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 25 

The relation of Minnesota Congregationalism to mis- 

issionary. s [ ons may be best understood by considering its relations 
The American , J , , . J ,,„ , & 

Board. to ^ ne seven benevolent societes. What have they done 

for Minnesota ? And -what has Minnesota done for them? 
Starting with the oldest and most world-wide society, we find 
that the American Board began work among the Indians of Minnesota 
in 1835, and continued it until about ten years ago when it trans- 
ferred all its Indian work to the American Missionary Association. 
On the other hand, Minnesota has given twenty-seven of its sons 
and daughters to the foreign field, as follows: Turkey, Rev. and 
Mrs. Americus Fuller, Charlotte D. Spencer, Mrs. Martha A. Ball, 
Susan Hawley Olmstead, Lizzie Emma Kirtland, Newton H. Bell,. 
Mrs. Emily H. Bell, Daniel M. B. Thorn, M. D., Helen Louise Dewey, 
John A. Ainslie, Henry K. Wingate; North China, Mrs. Isabella Riggs- 
Williams; Shansi, Miss D'Etta Hewett; Dakota, John Page Wil- 
liamson, Thomas L. Riggs, Margaret Louise Irvine; India, Anna 
Love Millard, Mrs. Abbie Snell Burnell; Japan, Franklin Bassett, 
Emily Marie Brown, Susan Annette Searle, Nina Stewart; Micro- 
nesia, Lillie S. Cathcart, Mrs. Mary Goldsbury Channon ; East Central 
Africa, Mrs. Ida Clary Wilcox; Persia, Hannah M„ Griffith. The con- 
tributions to the American Board from this state, from the first gift in. 
1849 of $2.50, to the $10,839.68 given this year, amount in all to 
$109,707.07, including $5,921.12 in legacies. 

American It may be news to some that Plymouth Church, Minne- 

isiissionary Asso- apolis, began its life in 1857 under the fostering care of 
this society, and was its ^beneficiary to the amount of 
$800, which it has repaid many times over. This society was oper- 
ating here at that time because the American Home (Missionary Society- 
was then in covenant with the Presbyterians to organize no Congre- 
gational church where a Presbyterian church already existed. 

Thirty-six Minnesota people have worked or are now working- 
under this society. In the field today are the following: North Dakota, 
Lillian Smith, Roanna F. Challis, Fort Berthold. Kentucky, Mr. and 
Mrs. H.E. Sargent, Mary A. Bye, Williamsburg. Tennesee, Mr. and Mrs.. 
W. F. Cameron, Crossville ; Mrs. Julia B. Nelson, Jonesboro ; Pres. E. 
M. Cravath, Fisk University, Nashville. North .Carolina, Ida Wells, 
Wilmington; Miss C. P. Lewis, Beaufort; Annette Jackson, Blowing- 
Rock; Walter P. Rogers, Saluda. Alabama, Rev. E. M. Sloan, Nat; 
Chas. P. Stevens, Mobile; Miss L. S. Downs, Athens. For over twenty 
years Minnesota has been giving to the A. M. A., the first gift being- 
$971.86 in 1871; its largest contribution being $3,848.90, in 1886; 
and its last 3 r ear's offering being $2,336.44. Total for twenty j^ears, 
$36,214.90. 



26 THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 

New West This latest born of the societies that labors to overcome 
Education Mormonism and Jesuitism by means of Christian educa- 

Commission. tion, and whose field is Utah, New Mexico, Indian Terri- 
tory and adjacent regions, has employed a number of lady teachers from 
Minnesota, as Etta F. and Julia A. Hunt, Ellen A. Martin, Lydia Sedgers, 
Josephine and Bertha Hegman. It has received since 1880 from this 
state, $15,431.38, including $1,520.63 given this year. 

College As an organization to help struggling colleges and young 
and Education me n preparing for the ministry, this is doing a large and 
Society. often unappreciated work. Nineteen students in Minne- 
sota colleges, and other young men from this state studying in the theo- 
logical seminaries, thirty in all, were on its list last year. It has given 
our students, in all, $5,715, and Minnesota has contributed to this 
work $2, 123.36. 

Sunday School Besides furnishing denominational literature, this organi- 
and Publishing zation has done some very well planned and executed 
Society. Sunday School missionary work. It is but little over three 
years since it began to assist us in Minnesota, and a glance at the dia- 
gram on page 22 shows the result. It has put into Minnesota about 
$7,000, and has received from us about $3,000. 

American To help put the roof over churches by gifts and loans to 
Congregational those that need help, and to assist in building parson- 
Union, ages, is this society's mission. It began work in Minne- 
sotain 1855 and '6. It has helped build 122 meeting houses and twenty- 
seven parsonages at a cost of $87,454.61, of which $8,881 was for par- 
sonages. In return it has received from our churches $47,500, $7,500 
being for parsonage building. 

American Home We come finally to what has well been called "the mother 
Missionary of us all." It is the great agency for home evangeliza- 
Society. tion. It has had the care of nearly all our churches and 
is now helping much more than half of them. It is assisting in paying 
the salaries of 121 ministers. It gave to Minnesota this year $25,672.20. 
and received $11,609.96 in return. In forty years it has placed in our 
work $609,413.13 and received in return $116,354.15. These figures 
are eloquent in declaring the interest that Congregationalists take in 
Christianizing America. 

We thus see that six of the seven societies have done 
Summary. work in Minnesota. The totals given and received by 
Minnesota in forty years are shown in the following 
diagram. 



THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 27 

MINNESOTA'S GIFT TO MISSIONS IN FORTY YEARS. 

" Col. and Ed. Society, $2,613.36. 
Cong. S. S. and Pub. Society, about $3,000. 



N. W. Ed. Com., $15,431.38. 



A. M. A., $36,214.90. 



A. C. U., $47,500.00. 



A. B. C. F. M., $109,707.07. 



A. H. M. S., $110,354.15 



Total, $324,820.86. 



MINNESOTA'S DEBT TO MISSIONS IN FORTY YEARS. 
"a. M. A., $800. 



Col. and Ed. Societv, $5,715. 



S. S. and Pub. Society, about $7,000. 



A. C. XL, $87,454.61. 



A. H. M. S., $609,413.13. 

Total, $710,382.74. 

Not less than fifteen men have been called from the pastorate in 
Minnesota to prominent places in general missionary, reformatory, edu- 
cational or evangelistic work. 

From these facts and the additional one that over 14,000 persons, 
equal to our entire present membership, have been received into our 
chvirches on confession of faith in forty years, show plainly that Minne- 
sota Congregationalists believe in a missionary gospel. 

With New England people, love for education seems to 
Education. be inborn, and so they have furnished a host of edu- 
cators. Minnesota being the newer New England, we 
find here the traditional educational fervor. Congregationalists in 
Minnesota, as in New England, are found to be closely identified with 
the best school work. We find them on school boards, in president's 
and professor's chairs, in teacher's positions in city and country, and 
their children are numerous in schools and colleges. They are loyal 



28 THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 

friends of the public schools and are keenly alive to am'thing that affects 
their welfare. But to supplement, stimulate and elevate the public 
schools they have from the beginning recognized the need of schools for 
higher education on an independent and Christian foundation. Hence 
there arose the Christian colleges and academies of New England and 
the western colleges that Congregationalists have fostered. 

Hence Carleton College, at Northfield, was founded in 
or i n the earl}' da}^, and its story is an integral part of the 

life of Congregationalism in Minnesota. It has never 
been a sectarian school; but the Congregationalists founded, it and they 
have been, and are today its natural constituents. It has now behind it 
twenty years of college work. Of its about 160 graduates, over forty are 
doing educational work; at least fifteen are preaching or preparingto; ten 
are continuing their studies; five graduates and three others, formerly 
connected with the institution, are in the foreign mission fields. One 
graduate in the foreign field is entirely supported and another partly 
supported by contributions of the faculty and students of the college. Over 
2,500 young people have been in attendance for longer or shorter periods, 
and it is said that 90 per cent of the students are Christians or become so 
before leaving the school. In its teaching force, buildings, equipment, 
students and standards the college has grown with the passing years. 
It has welcomed the "new education," and adopted the latest improve- 
ments in methods. With its able teachers, broad and liberal intellectual 
standard and earnest Christian tone, it is a worthy contribution of 
Minnesota Congregationalists to the cause of Christian education. It 
represents the best two features in college work, viz.: love for learning, 
for purely scientific investigation, seen especially in its school of 
pure mathematics and astronomy, and a strong practical bent 
attested bj r its sending forth so many young men and women, enriched 
and strengthened and inspired with a purpose to be of use to their fellow 
men. Carleton College still needs the prayers, gifts and patronage of 
its constituents. They have dealt generously with her in the past, and will , 
no doubt, in days to come. From Minnesota $228,501.42 has been 
given to Carleton, of which $89,612.83 came from Northfield. Besides 
this there are pledges from people in the state not yet due, but bear- 
ing interest, amounting to $105,000.00, of which, $4,694.08 is from 
Northfield. 

Theological The time has not yet come for a theological school in 
Training. Minnesota, and so our students for the ministry attend 
the eastern seminaries. Naturally the seminary at Chicago attracts 
the young men from Minnesota. Minnesota funds have helped ma- 
terially to build up this excellent school of the prophets. The recently 
organized Scandinavian department, with its five teachers and fifty-six 
students is closely related to the Scandinavian work in Minnesota 
which is so full of promise. The Slavic department at Oberlin also touches 



30 



THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 



our Bohemian missions. An annual theological institute, held at North- 
field, is all that is now being done in Minnesota along the line of theo- 
logical training. 

Academies. * n ^ ne ear b' days an effort was made to found a college 

The Windom at Excelsior, which was relinquished when the school 

institute. was located at Northfield by the state association. 

Afterwards an academy was started at Excelsior but was given up 

for lack of financial support. We now have two academies in the state. 




PROPOSED EXTENSION. PRESENT BUILDING. 

WINDOM INSTITUTE. 

(EDWIN S. JONES HALLj 

At Northfield, that which was formerly the preparatory school, is now 
organized as an academy with seven instructors and an attendance of 146. 
Here is done thorough work in fitting students for college ; it is in 
intimate relations to the college, both being under the same management. 
In 1885 an academy was founded at Montevideo which has grown into 
a school of much promise. It has a good brick building, located 
on a bluff, overlooking a beautiful country. Last year it had five 
teachers and 130 pupils. Its original name was the Western Minnesota 
Seminary, but this was lately changed to the Windom Institute, in honor 



THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 31 

of the late Hon. William Windom . An effort is now on foot to secure for it 
an ample endowment, which will enable it to do a much needed work in 
western Minnesota. Two classes have graduated, and its former stu- 
dents are now doing college work at Carleton and elsewhere. Its field 
is a large Scandinavian and American population. 

Christian Since the coming together of divided Christendom has 
Union. been the dream and hope of earnest Christians, Congre- 
gationalists have done what they could to hasten its approach. The 
efforts and plans have moved along several lines. It was once thought 
that it would be brought about by undenominational agencies — union 
efforts outside of the churches — and into these went much of Congrega- 
tional effort and mone}'. It is a notable fact that all but two of our 
benevolent organizations have the name American, not Congregational, 
and that they were originally union efforts, but have been left to the 
Congregationalists by the withdrawal of other co-operating churches 
within the past thirty years. But the Bible society, the Young Men's 
Christian Association, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
the Sunday School Union and city missions do not do this work, 
and this method of obtaining Christian union is a failure. The 
hope then arose that by organizing Union Churches the sects would 
disappear. In the nature of the case a Union church that gives equal 
rights to all must be simple and broad in creed and democratic in polity, 
which is really Congregationalism. Many churches have been so organ- 
ized and with most happy results. We have a number of such churches 
in Minnesota, as the churches at Hawley, Elk River, Glyndon and St. 
Louis Park. Congregationalism is adapted to just this thing, and we 
expect to see more and more of it. But it does not do away with the 
evil, and something else must be done. 

The plan now advocated is that of Federation. This asks no branch of 
the church to commit suicide for the good of the kingdom. It demands 
respect for each denomination's work and worth. It puts each of the 
sisterhood of churches on perfect equality. Then it proposes a plan of 
co-operation. In this federation no evangelical church is to trespass on 
another's work. No sect is to feel itself indispensible to a community, if 
that place is already supplied with evangelical churches. Believing that 
there is enough for all the churches to do without crowding, this plan 
would remove the evils of over-organized towns and villages, and of 
bitter feeling between Christians of different churches, and of the pitiful 
struggle for existence on the part of small churches, by means of mutual 
concessions, fraternal conferences, arbitration of disputed points by 
some mutually satisfactory committee. For such a plan as this the 
Congregationalists of Minnesota stand heart and soul, and have so 
pledged themselves. In the conferences held in St. Paul and Minneapolis 
in 1890 by representatives of the leading denominations, steps were taken 
in this direction, and in our associations of 1S90 and '91 resolutions in 



32 THE CHURCHES AT WORK. 

favor of it were adopted and all other steps taken that were possible. 
We wait now for our sister denominations to do likewise. We are here 
to stay. We are growing and full of hope and courage. But we are not 
liere to tear down another's work or to make war on our brethren. Let 
xis have peace — a peace that is self-respecting, and that is the basis of 
aggressive Christian work. Our present hope of Christian union is not in 
submission to hierarchical authority, nor in the consolidation of all 
churches into one, nor in all uniting on the restoration of some primitive 
customs and forms, but in such a federation of existing churches as shall 
put all methods and polities and churches holding to evangelical creeds in 
practical, friendty working order. Before the union of the American 
colonies came the federation of the colonies. Is not federation of the 
American churches the next step ? 

In conclusion, we as Congregationalists, looking back 
Advance over our rapid but solid development and forward to a 

mighty work in this great state, may well remember two 
things: First, that our polity is pliable and capable of many uses and 
adaptations, as the needs for such shall arise. The true ring of Congre- 
gationalism in individuals, churches, schools, or missionary societies, is 
discovered by sounding the seven notes: Loyalty, liberty, fellow- 
ship, evangelical faith, missionary zeal, educational enthusiasm and 
love for Christian union. Any change not inconsistent with these 
is allowable. Secondly, Minnesota, in more than one sense the high- 
land of America, has a great service to render. It is a city set 
on a hill. It is to be Christianized. There is to be built up here 
a Christian civilization. Christ is to be glorified by filling 
churches, schools, homes, business and institutions with His Spirit. 
A great responsibility in this work rests with Congregationalists. 
Among the advance steps to be taken as soon as possible are: to push 
forward evangelistic work in city and ountry, not among a favored 
middle class, but with the highest and the lowest, Americans, Scandina- 
vians, Bohemians and Germans, till all have been reached by His power 
4 'who tasted death for every man;" to continue to increase the gifts to 
missions, not only to the point of self-support, but as long as the world 
needs our help; to endow our colleges and academies till they rank with 
the best in the land in means and facilities ; and to work for a practical 
federation with other evangelical churches, that our Lord's prayer 
may be realized : 

"Gbat tbeg mag all be one, as tbou, afatber, art in me, ano H In 
tbee, tbat tbeg also mag be one In us; tbat tbe worlo mag believe 
tbat tbou bast sent me." 



"OUR HOME PAPER." 

Resolution adopted by the Minnesota General Association, 
Sept. 17, 1891: 

"The Association recognizes with gratitude the service rendered our com- 
mon work by the Northwestern Congregationalist; and its able manage- 
ment, its close touch with the things that are nearest to us, its wisdom of atti- 
tude toward questions of present importance, commend it to us for a still larger 
use and increased circulation in the churches." 



The Northwestern Congregationalist, 



PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT 



18 Jlorth Fourth Street, JWinneapolis, JVIinn., 

Represents, to the largest extent and -with the fullest sympathy, all 

the work of the Congregational churches of the 

Northwest. 



Hdbat a few of its frfenbs sap about it: 

•'I prize it next to my Bible." 

"The paper as a whole is a model." 

"Better and better pleased -with it." 

41 Congratulations on its splendid success." 

"We need just such a spicy, fearless journal." 

"It is a continual and gratifying surprise to me." 

" It is doing a work which no other paper can do." 

"I would not do without it if its price was $5.00 a year." 

" Brightly and wisely edited and doing the churches good." 

"Its development has far exceeded even its abundant promise." 

" It has more life in it than any other paper of the kind which conies into 
my house." 

"I regard it as a most important element in the building up of God's king- 
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"It is a first-class religious paper. I would not be without it for any- 
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"I know of no better without exception. I wish it could extend its constit- 
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"It is actually the only religious paper, among the many which I take, 
which I read through every week." — A Boston Pastor. 

"I enjoy reading the paper very much, and am instructed and refreshed by 
its weekly visits. The whole tone of it is admirable." — Dr. R. S. Storrs. 

"I heartily endorse the Northwestern, and wish that a copy of it might 
find its way into every Congregational family in Minnesota." — Supt. J. H. 

AlORLEY. 

"It pleases me greath^, not only because of the local flavor it carries and the 
detailed news it gives us of our own work and churches, but also because of the 
strength and timeliness of its contributed articles and its live editorial character. 
It ought to grow into a large and well-established place in the Northwest." — 
Dr. Albert Shaw. 

IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. 

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Subscription price, $1.50 per year. If paid wholly in advance, $1.00 
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THE CONGREGATIONAL PUBLISHING CO, 

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PARK AVE. CONG'L CHURCH, ANDREW PRESB. CHURCH, 

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wisdom institute! 

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Located at Montevideo, Chippewa Co., Minnesota. 

■f OCATION picturesque and healthy. Buildings commodious, comfortable, steam- 
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WINDOM NSTITUTE, Montevideo, Minn. 



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Our zest-pocket book of Lessons and Golden Texts 
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Saturday ™ Spectator 



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of Minneapolis, Minn. 

AND 

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Both for One Year, for Only $2.00. 

Are you Interested in the City of Minneapolis, Minn. ? If you are vou should 
read the" SATURDAY EVENING/ SPECTATOR. It is a twelve-page, illu- 
strated, weekly newspaper, containing all the local news, as well as combining 
Social, Literary and Business Features. It is now in its thirteenth year. 
Subscription price, $2.00 per year. 

Are you taking "THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS," monthly, illustrated; 
"The Busy Man's Magazine," published simultaneously in the United States 
and Great Britain, which everybody is talking about ? Dr. Albert Shaw, who 
was for several years the editor of the Minneapolis Tribune, is the editor of the 
American edition. The subscription price is $2.00 per year, until Jan. 1st, 1892, 
After that it will be advanced to $2.50. We have made arrangements with the 
publishers of " The Review of Reviews " whereby we are enabled to make the 
following very remarkable offer. We will send 



PUBLICATION. 



DATU PUBLICATIONS <fc O f\f\ 
DvJ I rl ONE YEAR FOR yJ>^m\JKj 

ition is received by us before January 1st, 1892 
will be $2.50. Address 

SATURDAY EVENING SPECTATOR, Minneapolis, Minn. 



if the subscription is received by us before January 1st, 1892. After that 
date the price will be $2.50. Address 



Cfli^LiETOjM COIiLEGE, 



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Not sectarian, but thoroughly Christian and evangelical. 

Catalogues and circulars containing information as to courses of 
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JAMES W. STRONG. President. 



The Congregationalist. 



77th Year. 

Albert E. Dunning, D.D., Editor. 



'THE BEST RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPER in 

the world." This is the unsolicited testimony 
of many of the most prominent ministers and 
laymen in this country. It aims to chronicle 
all important religious movements of our time 
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A FAMILY PAPER. By counsel, story, incident, 
poem, conversation, adapted to all ages and 
conditions, it seeks to set forth and foster the 
highest and purest ideal of the home, and to 
help families to make the ideal actual. 



DENOMINATIONAL PAPER, represent- 
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Published Weekly at $3.00 per year, in advance, 

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a um • i o -u • *.• ,, Twelve weeks, 25 cents, or six 

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The Congregationalist Handbook for 1892 again enlarged to 56 pages. It 
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ognized as in every respect, 

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Sie* PLANS FOR 1892 ARE MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN EVER. -«s 



REV. B. FA Y MILLS has agreed to furnish The Advance a series 
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continue to furnish lesson notes for at least one half the year. 

PANSY'S new long serial, "John Remington — Martyr," begins 
November 1st. 

Price for 14 mos. or until January, 1893, $2. Trial offer, 3 mos., 25 cts. 

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journal existing for those who have not 
money to buy or time to read a great number 
of newspapers. 

REV. CHAS. F. DEEMS, D. D., says: If I could 
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OPINION. If I took a hundred I should still 
need it. 

MR. F. B. THURBER, OF NEW YORK, says: 



HARPER'S WEEKLY: Whoever wishes to know 
the movement of public opinion will find it 
happily summarized in this publication. 



BOSTON TRANSCRIPT says: The large circu- 
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the surest signs of a high civilization in the 
United States. 
I consider PUBLIC OPINION a necessity to busy 
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If you are not already a subscriber to PUBLIC OPINION send 10 cents in stamps for three 
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Mention CONGREGATIONALISM 

IN MINNESOTA. 



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wonder at its instant success, but only that it did not appear at an earlier date. 

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